What are pharaoh ants?
Pharaoh ants are a small species of ant that live together in large colonies. Their bodies are light yellow to brown in color and they have red or black-colored abdomen. Queens are slightly darker in color than workers. Pharaoh ants are common invaders of homes, hospitals, nursing homes, and food processing facilities. They are considered some of the most difficult ants to control because of their ability to establish multiple colonies through a structure they have invaded.
Are pharaoh ants dangerous?
Pharaoh ants are a dangerous species of ant. Unlike many nuisance species of ants, pharaoh ants carry and transmit a number of dangerous pathogens. They are known for spreading salmonella and Streptococcus. Pharaoh ants often invade hospitals, where they contaminate patient wounds and intravenous bags. When nesting inside homes, these ants contaminate food and the surfaces of your home with the bacteria they carry on their bodies and legs. Inside, pharaoh ants contaminate food sources and are difficult to eliminate because of their large colony size and their ability to “bud”. Budding occurs after the colony is disturbed or when they smell a toxic substance. A small group of workers and a single queen migrates from their colony to start a new colony.
Why do I have a pharaoh ant problem?
Pharaoh ants are attracted to properties that offer easy access to food, water, and shelter. These ants feed on a wide variety of foods, including sweets, oils, and proteins. Garbage containers, compost piles, pet food, outdoor eating areas, and gardens can all attract pharaoh ants to a property.
Where will I find pharaoh ants?
Pharaoh ants prefer to nest inside in areas that are warm and humid. Pharaoh ants like to nest behind baseboards, wall voids, underneath floors, near hot water pipes, and behind large appliances. They use electrical and telephone wires as a highway system to travel through walls and between floorboards. Outside, pharaoh ants prefer to nest in shaded areas or underneath debris.
How do I get rid of pharaoh ants?
To eliminate invasive and potentially dangerous pharaoh ants from your home or business, partner with a professional pest control company. At Proven Pest Management, we offer customizable and flexible pest management services that will completely solve your pharaoh ant problem. Our highly trained professionals offer property owners personable and personalized ant control services at an affordable price. To learn more about the pharaoh ant control services we provide throughout Tennessee and Mississippi, call Proven Pest Management!
How can I prevent pharaoh ants in the future?
Do the following in and around your home to help prevent problems with invasive pharaoh ants:
- Install door sweeps.
- Seal cracks in exterior walls and your home’s foundation.
- Place weather stripping around windows and doors.
- Seal spaces found around vents, pipes, and wires that lead inside through exterior walls.
- Trim tree branches, shrubs, and bushes away from the outside of your home.
- Reduce access to water by repairing leaky pipes and fixtures found inside and outside your home.
- Remove trash from your home daily.
- If you have garden areas on your property, make sure to quickly pick up fruits and vegetables that have fallen to the ground.
- Routinely sweep and mop in kitchen and pantry areas.
- Wash dirty dishes on a daily basis.